Copy Cat Trader Joe's Chili Lime Chicken Burgers - Iowa Girl Eats (2024)

Copy Cat Trader Joe's Chili Lime Chicken Burgers are a zesty, fresh twist on chicken for dinner!

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A couple weeks ago I was cleaning up some old posts and came across a Trader Joe’s night dinner including Chicken Chili Lime Burgers, which I had loved at the time.

I remember wanting to recreate them at home at some point, and had even typed out the ingredient list from the package so I could come back later and have a shopping list all ready to go.

I’m so glad I did, because last night I came up with a recipe that both Ben and I liked even better than the original. I present to you a zesty twist on a TJ’s fave: Homemade Chili Lime Chicken Burgers. You’ve got to try these!

How to Make Copy Cat Trader Joe’s Chili Lime Chicken Burgers:

For four burgers, you’ll need 1lb ground chicken. I used ground chicken with 5% fat so my burgers would be nice and juicy, but you could use ground chicken breast for a slightly leaner alternative.

Next add chopped green onions, minced red pepper, and chopped cilantro.

Followed by minced garlic, salt, and red chili pepper flakes, which give the burgers even more zip.

The real hero, though, is the juice of half a lime. It give the burgers a real punch!

Mix all the ingredients together with clean hands, then form the mixture into 4 patties.

You can make these a couple hours ahead of time if need be, just make sure they sit at room temperature for 10 minutes or so before cooking.

Next, heat a skillet or grill pan over high heat. Chili Lime Chicken Burgers are more of an indoor grill vs outdoor grill type of burger, which is just as well because I found out last weekend that the grill Ben and I have been using for the past four years was recalled like 2 years ago for faulty, I don’t know, flame thingies (?) which could set the grill door (or whatever it’s called) on fire. Awesome!

At any rate, spray each side of the burgers very well with non-stick spray, then grill for 3-4 minutes a side, or until cooked all the way through.

When the burgers are nearly cooked on the second side, add a slice of Pepper Jack Cheese, then place a large pot lid on top to allow the cheese to melt.

Copy Cat Trader Joe's Chili Lime Chicken Burgers - Iowa Girl Eats (14)

While the cheese is melting, mix up a batch of Lazy’s Girl’s Guacamole – that’s just 1 avocado mashed with lime juice and garlic salt. The best!

Place the burgers onto a toasted bunthen top with guac!

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Copy Cat Trader Joe’s Chili Lime Chicken Burgers

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5/5 (5 REVIEWS)

Description

Copy Cat Trader Joe's Chili Lime Chicken Burgers are a zesty, fresh twist on chicken for dinner!

Ingredients

Serves 4

  • 1lb ground chicken
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • 1/4 cup minced red bell pepper
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 lime, cut in half
  • 4 slices pepper jack cheese
  • 4 buns, toasted
  • For the guacamole:
    • 1 avocado
    • garlic salt
    • lime juice, to taste

Directions

  1. Combine chicken, green onions, bell pepper, cilantro, garlic, salt, red pepper flakes and juice of half a lime in a large bowl. Mix until thoroughly combined, then form into 4 patties and spray each side generously with non-stick spray.
  2. Heat a large grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Grill burgers for 3-4 minutes a side, or until cooked all the way through. Place a slice of cheese on top of each burger, then cover with a large pot lid, and allow to melt for about a minute. Remove burgers to a plate, tent with foil, and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Place each burger on a toasted bun then top with guacamole.
  3. For the guacamole: Mash all ingredients together with a potato masher or fork.

This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.

Soooooo much better than I could have even hoped for! Satisfying, filling, and kind of spicy with a cooling touch from the fresh guacamole. Fantastic! I hope you enjoy!

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160 Comments

  1. Copy Cat Trader Joe's Chili Lime Chicken Burgers - Iowa Girl Eats (19) janice 08.23.2022

    i made these last night..unlike most comments..i made this recipe exactly as explained..and they were absolutely delicious..i made a double batch and froze them for next time..i sure did miss my Trader Joe’s version but no more!

    5

    Reply

    • Copy Cat Trader Joe's Chili Lime Chicken Burgers - Iowa Girl Eats (20) Kristin 08.23.2022

      SO glad you enjoyed, Janice! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!

      Reply

  2. Copy Cat Trader Joe's Chili Lime Chicken Burgers - Iowa Girl Eats (21) Laura Stodtmeister 06.10.2022

    I’ve been making these burgers for years and everyone gets very excited when they learn they’re on the menu. Definitely a family favorite. Thank you!

    5

    Reply

  3. Copy Cat Trader Joe's Chili Lime Chicken Burgers - Iowa Girl Eats (23) None 03.22.2022

    I made these tonight, and they are fantastic! In fact, my grocery store was out of ground chicken so I made them with ground turkey and they were still amazing. However, I have a couple of comments/questions.

    First, I followed the recipe and read the blog later, so that may have been my mistake. However, the blog says to mince the red pepper and the recipe says to chop it. I do believe the burger would’ve held together better had I minced the red onion instead of just chopped it.

    Also, I love a quick and easy guacamole. I followed the recipe and used garlic POWDER with salt and pepper. However, the blog says garlic SALT and lime juice. No mention of lime juice in the recipe or pepper in the blog. I’m sure you know the difference between garlic powder and garlic salt, and it’s curious to me that the blog says to use one and the recipe says to use the other. Which do you recommend?

    Reply

    • Copy Cat Trader Joe's Chili Lime Chicken Burgers - Iowa Girl Eats (24) Kristin 03.24.2022

      All fixed up for you – thanks for the heads up!

      Reply

  4. Copy Cat Trader Joe's Chili Lime Chicken Burgers - Iowa Girl Eats (25) Emily 06.12.2021

    I’ve made these twice now and they’re great! Thanks for the recipe!

    5

    Reply

    • Copy Cat Trader Joe's Chili Lime Chicken Burgers - Iowa Girl Eats (26) Kristin 06.15.2021

      So glad you enjoy these, Emily!! Really appreciate your star rating, too!

      Reply

  5. Copy Cat Trader Joe's Chili Lime Chicken Burgers - Iowa Girl Eats (27) Erin 09.22.2019

    The flavor on these were AMAZING! However, mine turned out a bit dry… anything I can do to boost the juiciness? Or is this just the cost of using ground chicken?

    4.5

    Reply

    • Copy Cat Trader Joe's Chili Lime Chicken Burgers - Iowa Girl Eats (28) Kristin 10.01.2019

      I’m so glad to hear it, Erin! I recommend using ground chicken (which includes white and dark meat,) instead of ground chicken breast. They’ll come out more juicy and tender that way. :)

      Reply

  6. Copy Cat Trader Joe's Chili Lime Chicken Burgers - Iowa Girl Eats (29) Weekly Meal prep | Breakfast Taco Scramble, Chile Lime Burgers, Blueberry Chia Seed Jam – 30minutemeals 06.03.2019

    […] Chile Lime Burgers – https://iowagirleats.com/2012/03/28/homemade-trader-joes-chili-lime-chicken-burgers/ 4 Patties – 2 SP each […]

    Reply

  7. […] Homemade Trader Joes Chili Lime Chicken Burgers by Kristin at Iowa Girl Eats […]

    Reply

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I’m a Midwestern wife and Mama, and after being diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2013 I began sharing delicious and approachable gluten-free recipes made with everyday, in-season ingredients. Welcome!

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Copy Cat Trader Joe's Chili Lime Chicken Burgers - Iowa Girl Eats (2024)

FAQs

Does Trader Joe's still have chili lime chicken burgers? ›

The burgers were produced from Aug. 16 to Sept. 29, 2021. Trader Joe's says the burgers have been removed from stores and are no longer for sale.

How long to cook Trader Joe's turkey burgers? ›

Grill: Preheat grill to medium high. Place seasoned patties on grill and cook, covered, for 6 minutes. Flip burgers and cook, covered, about 6 more minutes or until internal temperature of patties reaches 165°F.

Did Trader Joe's discontinue chicken burgers? ›

Trader Joe's quietly discontinued the frozen chicken burgers last year but just confirmed it to The U.S. Sun. Each box came with four patties made with onions, bell peppers, garlic, and lime juice concentrate.

How long to grill Trader Joe's burgers? ›

About 6 minutes per side. Remove from grill, cover and rest for 5 minutes.

Are turkey burgers healthy? ›

"Ground turkey contains less saturated fat than ground beef, giving it a more beneficial fat profile," says Beaver. "In its place, ground turkey instead contains more polyunsaturated fat, which is a protective, healthier type of fat."

Can you thaw Trader Joe's turkey burgers? ›

Make sure you defrost the pattys in the microwave a bit or take them out ahead of time!

Is Trader Joe's Harvest Chili seasonal? ›

UPDATE, February 2022: Now that Trader's Joe's Harvest Chili is no longer available because it is a seasonal item (i.e., Trader Joe's only seems to sell it in the fall months), I am SO happy to have this recipe because we can make it all year long!

Is Wendy's chili made with leftover burgers? ›

He even asked himself, “what do you do with the leftover hamburger?” The answer was simple: combine the beef we use for our hamburgers with a hearty helping of vegetables, chili beans and a dash of spice. Creating the perfect chili recipe wasn't easy, but Dave knew it would be worth it.

Is Wendy's Chilli Old burgers? ›

Accordingly, Wendy's developed an off-putting solution: Incorporate old, unsold burger patties into the restaurant's chili. Find this fact a little too disgusting to be true? As reported by Entrepreneur, the practice for making Wendy's chili was demonstrated by a staff member at the chain.

Does Burger King have a green chili burger? ›

Burger King Flirts With Summer Flavors

The new concept includes two limited-edition Whoppers. The first is the Green Chili BBQ Smoky Whopper and combines the smoky Bullseye barbeque sauce with a new green chili sauce that Burger King promises has a "sharp spiciness."

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